Parking brake



June 14, 1960 R. B. KOSKELA PARKING BRAKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1956 INVENTOR R0 E97 5. Ke s/(5m June 14, 1960 R. B. KOSKELA 2,940,334

PARKING BRAKE Filed Aug. 27, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR Ros/Pr 5. Kosk 1. 87 v III I l l I I I l l. A. m WWI; n .u m 1 f I IWm W kllllllll? V /J June 14, 1960 R. B. KOSKELA PARKING BRAKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27. 1956 R 0 A V m. w E K E Z M a. N T R 5 0 PW V1 8 w] 10 4 I 4 m w fi h 4 0 n ||l 1h: 71 V United States Patent PARKIN G BRAKE Robert B. Koskela, Pontiac, Mich, assignor to American Forging and Socket Company, Pontiac, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 27, 1956, Ser. No. 606,359 18 Claims. (Cl. 74-539) The present invention relates to a parking brake.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pedal actuated parking brake including means for latching the brake and operating pedal in brake latching position, said means being releasable as a result of the application of pressure to the brake pedal to permit controlled release of the brake.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pedal operated parking brake comprising a pair of levers pivoted together having means providing for limited lost motion between said members, and ratchetmechanism controlled in part by relative movement between said levers operable to latch the brake in applied position and to release the brake by the simple application of pressure to the braking pedal followed by controlled movement of the pedal to brake released position.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the brake mechanism.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the brake mech anism with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the ratchet mechanism in the position which it occupies with the brake applied. v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5, Figure 1.,

Figure 6- is a side elevational view of a modified construction.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 6, with parts broken away.

The particular brake system to which the actuating mechanism is connected may be of any convenient type. According to the present invention the system is shown as actuated by a flexible cable 10 received in a supporting conduit 12, the conduit being engaged by a clamp 14 and the cable being connected as indicated at 16 to a link 18 connected to the brake applying lever 20.

The brake actuating mechanism comprises a stationary supporting plate or bracket 22 adapted to be supported generally in front of the dash of a vehicle so as to support a brake pedal 24 in depending relation. The bracket 22 is provided with a pivot opening 26 receiving a spacer 28 which with the pivot pin 29 provides a stationary pivot for the pedal 24 as well as with motion transmitting or brake applying lever 20 composed of two plates 20:; and 26b disposed at opposite sides of the bracket 22.

The bracket 22 at its rearward end includes a laterally ofiset ear 32 to which is connected the rearward end of a curved ratchet plate 34. The bracket 22 as best seen in Figure 5, includes a second laterally offset car 36 to which the other end of the ratchet plate 34 is connected. The cars 32'and 36 are offset to locate the ratchet plate 34 in the plane of the bracket 22. The ear 36 includes a further offset extension 38 constituting a stop member whose purpose will subsequently be described. The bracket 22 is further provided with an elongated slot 40.

The pedal 24 is formed of a metal stamping having a portion 240 at one side thereof and a portion 2412 at the other side thereof. The pedal 24 extends substantially above the axis of the pivot pin 29 and is there provided with a transverse pin 42 which is received in a short arcuate slot 44 formed in the lever 20. The pin 42 is permitted freedom to travel in the elongated arcuate slot 40 in the bracket 22.

A relatively strong coil spring 46 is provided which is coiled around bushings 48. One end of the spring as indicated at 50, extends through an opening in a lug formed on the lever 20. The other end of the spring as indicated at 52, bears against the pedal 24 and tends to rock it counterclockwise as seen in Figure 1, or in a direction corresponding to brake releasing movement of the pedal. 1

At its upper end the lever 20 carries a pivot pin 54 on which is mounted a movable pawl 56. The pawl 56 has a tooth engaging point 58 and is provided with an opening 60 which receives bent over fingers 62 of the lever 20 to limit rocking movement of the pawl. Also mountedon the pivot pin 54 is a pawl control lever 64 carrying a pin 66 engageable between cars 67 and 68 of the pawl. The pin 66 of the pawl control lever 64 is connected by a tension spring 69 to the. lever 20, one

end of the coil spring extending-through an opening 70 in the lever. The locationof the opening 70 is such that the lever 64 is an over-center device adapted to biasthe pawl 56 toward either latching or release position.

The latch control lever 64 has at one side a depending With the parts .in the position shown Figure l the mechanism is inthe brake release position. It is assumedthat the brake system includes t-heusual springs applying tension to the cable 10 so that forces are available constantly urging thelever 20 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin.29., In the position shown the pin 74 is engaged against the, end of the stop 38 and the forces available in thebrake system will have rocked the pawl control lever 64 to the position shown.

At this time tension of the-spring 69 acting between the lever 64 and the opening 70 applies a counterclock- V wise'force to the lever 64 as seen in Figure l, and this in turn applies a similar counterclockwise bias to the pawl 56. Thus, the pawl is biasedto the latching position. At this time the spring 46 tends to rock the pedal 24 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of pivot pin 29 but this movement is prevented by engagement between pin 42 and the end of slot 40 in bracket 22. Thus, the pin 42 remains at the right hand end of the slot 44, as lever 20 is pulled to-the front or in a counterclockwise direction'by tension inthe cable 10.

If the operator now applim pressure to the pedal 24, the pedal will move in a clockwise direction and the ment of the lever 20 ispermitted, the point of the pawl Patented June 14, 1960 yieldably over theteetli of the ratchet. When 5' hr ingfpressure is released from the lever 20, the spring in the braking system will initiate counterclockwise rota- 7 tion of the lever 29 andthe pointof the pawl 58 will drcpainto: the appropriate. toothispace of the. ratchet.

Whmpawl 5,8iholds"leveri20, 'the spring 46 is eflFectivei0. 96k; the pedal 24, counterclockwisea limited. amount j relative to lever 29 as permitted by the. short slot 44in lever; 20. This causes the finger 78. to swing the pin '74'clockwise about pivot pin 54. as seen. in Figure 3 and hence; to move'the, pawl control lever 64over center to a position in which itspin'66 engages. the car 68 of the pawl.

the tension/spring 69 is relatively weak: and since the pawl isret-ained; in latched relation by the pull of' the brake actuating; cable;..10. The pawl remains. engaged .w th the ratchet, but is lightly'biaseduto ward release posit-ion;-soj that the} system, is prepared for release of thepawlgfromthe ratchet upon the next subsequent applicat on; ofpressure-to the pedal; 'The parts at this time are in the position illustrated in Figure 3. a

,When the "operator desires torelease the. brake he pcdalunlatches', the. operators-foot is applying sirflicient f pressure to the pedal to prevent sudden movement of the a pedal." Then the pressure :applied tothe pedal 24 is suflicientrto release the pawljthe' pawl swings to ratchet This is accomplished without actual di sen gagement of pawlSd from the tooth of ratchet'3'4' since the lever moves'counterclockwise to release the brakes, the pawl is biased to the release position until the lever 20 reaches its limiting position, and during the last part of this movement the pawlcontrol lever 64" is swung toward the position in which it biases the pawl toward latching position so that it may be operative upon the next application of the brakes In the embodiment of the invention as thus far described it is assumed that the brake system to which the systemof levers. is connected, v,is designed at all times to apply tension to the cable '10. However, in somehstances theYbrake system is so designed that when the parking brake isin its .ofi position there is little or no tension applied'to the cable 10. "In this case the mechanism illustrated infignreso and 7* isfcmployed.

In this embodiment of the invention there is provided a support bracket 110 having a hardened ratchet memher 112 connected thereto. Pivotally connected to the i framo 'iltl by' a pivot pin 1141s a first lever comprising 'apedal poition'lld and an upwardly extending latch control finger 118.] A150 pivotally :connected to the V bracket by the pin 114 is the brake applying lever 120 first applies pressure. to the pedal. Theinitial effect of; this is to move the pinv 42 tothe right handiend of the slot 44 as seen'in' Figure 1, against the force of the spring 46. This force. is substantial so. that when the brake having'an" apeitured projection 12 2 for connection to a brake applying cable such as the cable 16 shown in Figure 1. A limited lost motion connection is provided between the pedal 116 and the brake applying lever 12% and this means comprises-a pin 124 carried by the pedal- 1'16 and-extending througha short elongated slot 126 in the brake applying pedal. 1 A much longer elongated clearing. position. Theoperator may now permit the 7 Pedal to-move against'the pressure-applied: by his foot to releasethe brake. As. the brake; is fully-released, the

:parts again approach the, position illustrated in Figure 1; At th s time the pin 74". engages-the stop 38 andthe latchcontrol lever 64is again swung to the position in which;

it biases the pawl'towardlatching positions" a From. the foregoing detaileddescription-it will be observedthat as: the lever-.20 is moving clockwise as" the operator:- applies. pressure to the brake; pedal, the pawl slot 128 is provided in the bracket 110 to permit movement of the pedal 1'16 and brake applying lever 120 V substantially as a unit.

'Pi votally connected to the: upper end of the brake applying lever 120 by a pin 129 is a pawl 130 having ears 132 and 134. Also pivotally connected to the'upper' e'ndbfthe lever 120 by the pin 129 is a Ll-shaped pawl control 'lever 136 carrying a pin 138 engageablealter nately'with the ear 132'or 134. A light tension spring member 56 'biased counterclockwise or in latching direction so that its pawl point 01 tooth 58 clicks over the teeth of the ratchet- When the proper pressure is applied to the brake, the operator releasesthe pedal and the pedal 24 and. lever 20:-rotate counterclockwise for a limited distance. "as determined by engagement of'jthe pawlpoint 58 with a tooth-ofthe ratchet. :V'I'his immediately stops release movement of the lever-20.. However; thepedal 2.4 can have a slight additional movement as, itspin42 maymove in the short slot 44 in thelev'er'20; i

Thisrelative movement ofithe pedal 24 causes its extension. 78 toengage the pin 72 of the pawl control'le'ver 64,

' thus swinging it clockwise to the position shown inFigure; 3; at 'whi'ch time it operates to'biasthe pawl 56 toward'release position. The pawl however is prevented a from moving 5 to release position by engagement between 140 connects the pin 138 to an opening 142 in the lever- 120. iThe location of the points of connection of the spring 140 are such that it serves as an over-center spring etfective'to' bias the-pawl control lever 136 either to; the

' right or left as seen, in Figure 6. In'the position shown in- Figure-6 the pawl control lever 136' biases the pawl 130towaidlatching position.

having one end engaging against a transversely bent" lug 152 'on thelever'120. The other end of the spring, as

' indicated at 154, extends upwardly from the pivot pin 114 and engages-a web portion 1 56 of the pedal 116. It

'will be observed that the, torsion spring 150 is in effect.

' inverted with'respectto the torsion spring 46. shown in itspoirit '58 and atooth of the ratchet. However, when pressure is next appliedtothe pedalso as to-release the pawl 56 from engagement with the ratchet, the overcen'ter spring-69 will swing the pawl'to release position. Then, as pressure'on the pedal is releasedtorelease the brakes, the pedal 24 and lever 20 swings counterclockwise until they reach the limiting position. 'Upon appreaching the limiting po'sition'the pin 74 of the pawl control lever 64 engages the end of the extension 38, thus swinging the pawl control member 64 counterclockwise to the position in 'which' itbiases the pawl 56 toward 7 latching engagement. 7 t v V Thus, as the lever 20' is'movingclockwise to apply the brakes, the pawl'control member 64 is to the left applying a latching bias to the pawl 56.x After'the pawl is engaged the-springy46yacting on the pedal 24, causes its extension 78to swing the pawl controlmember 64 to a position in whichit biases the pawl toward release position. As

'Figure 1. t 7

spring 160 is provided-which extends from an opening,

Irraddition, a relatively strong extension 162 provided in'the bracket' llll'andtan opening 164 in the pedal. With this arrangement it'will beobserved that the torsion spring 150 operates: between the pedal 116 and the lever 12t) and biases; the lever counterclockwise and the pedal 116 clockwise as seen in Figure 6. At the same time,'the tension spring 160 biases the pedal 116 counterclockwise as seen in Figure 6',

With this arrangement, and assuming the tension applied" to the lever 120 by the brake system is negligible, thetconditions illustrated in Figure 6 exist as the parking brake startsto move'toward its applied position. .At this time the spring is effective to have rocked the lever 120'toi the'illustratedtposition and to' hold it in this posi: tion with the pin 124 engagedagainst the right hand end of the elongated slot 126. It will be observed that the pin 146 will have engagedtthe. end'cf the abutment 1483 and will have been rotated counterclockwise to an overcenter position in which a counterclockwise bias is applied to the pawl 130. a With the parts in this position, the next operation is the continued application of the parking brake which is accomplished by swinging the pedal clockwise from the position illustrated. Initial movement of the pedal causes equal movement of the brake applying lever 120 and a corresponding take-up on the cable connected to the apertm'ed projection 122. When the desired application of braking pressure is in effect, the pedal is released. At this time the pawl control lever 136 continues to bias the pawl 130 in latching direction and accordingly the tooth of the pawl will engage a tooth of the ratchet member 112 and will retain the brake in applied position.

Release of the brake applying pedal 116 upon the next forward movement of the pedal is prepared by limited counterclockwise movement of the pedal relative to the latched brake applying lever 120 as a result of the tension of the spring 1653. This relative movement causes the upwardly extending finger 118 of the pedal to engage the pin 146 and to swing the pawl control lever 136 in a clockwise direction over-center so that its pin 138 engages the car 134 of the pawl. There is thus established a force tending to release the pawl from the ratchet. However, the relatively light spring 140 is inefiective to release the pawl and in fact the pawl cannot be released by the spring until substantially full brake applying pressure is again applied to the pedal. When this is done however, the pawl 13% snaps to unlatched position and permits release of the brakes accompanied by counterclockwise movement of the pedal 116 to a position in which the pin 14-6 encounters the abutment 148 and again snaps the pawl control lever 136 over-center to the position illustrated in Figure 6.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved parking brake in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Brake actuating mechanism comprising a fixed mounting bracket having pivot means thereon, a ratchet surface concentric with said pivot means, and a stop adj acent one end of said ratchet surface, a first lever pivotally connected to said plate by said pivot means and having an actuating finger at one end adjacent said ratchet surface, a second lever pivotally connected to said plate by said pivot means and having a connection for a tension member to extend to a brake system, a ratchet engaging pawl pivoted to said second lever, an over-center pawl control lever pivoted to said second lever having a pawl engaging portion adapted to bias said pawl toward latched or un-' latched position, an over-center spring connected to said pawl control lever, a lost motion connection between said first and second levers providing for limited relative angular movement therebetween and for actuation of said second lever by said first, an abutment on said pawl control lever engageable by the finger on said first lever, and a spring acting between said first and second levers acting to rock said first lever in brake releasing direction relative to said second lever, said abutment being engageable with said stop upon movement of said first and second levers into brake release position to rock said pawl control lever to bias said pawl toward latched position, said finger being engageable with said abutment to rock said pawl control lever to bias said pawl toward release position when said first lever is released to permit latching engagement of said pawl with said ratchet surface after said first and second levers have been moved to brake applied position.

2. A foot operated parking brake comprising a fixed pivot support having a ratchet surface thereon, a pedal and motion transmitting lever pivoted to said pivot support, a limited lost motion connection between said pedal and lever, means for connecting said lever to a brake system, a pawl carried by said lever, and pawl control Y means including means carried by said pedal and by said support to bias said pawl toward latching position upon movement of said pedal to brake release position for latching engagement with said ratchet surface upon the next brake applying movement of said pedal and to bias said pawl toward release position when said pedal is released following movement to brake applied position.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said pawl control means includes a spring connected between said pedal and lever and biasing said pedal toward brake release position.

4. Mechauism as defined in claim 3 in which said spring is of such strength as to be overcome by the resistance of the brake system during application of brakes.

5. Brake actuating mechanism comprising a pair of levers pivoted together, limited lost motion means acting between said levers, resilient means acting between said levers, ratchet mechanism operable to retain said levers in brake applying position, means responsive to relative movement between said levers caused .by said resilient means as a result of release of brake applied force to said levers in brake applied position to bias said ratchet mechanism for release upon the next application of force to said levers in brake applying direction, and means responsive to movement of said levers to brake release position to bias said ratchet mechanism toward latching position.

6. A parking brake comprising a lever system, a pawl and ratchet latch mechanism for holding said lever system in brake applied position, means responsive to release of brake applying pressure to the lever system in the brake applied position to condition the pawl and ratchet latch mechanism for release upon re-application of pressure in brake applying direction thereto, said means including over-center spring biasing means connected to said pawl and ratchet latch mechanism.

7. A parking brake comprising a lever system, a pawl and ratchet latch mechanism for holding said lever system in brake applied position, means responsive to release of brake applying pressure to the lever system in the brake applied position to condition the pawl and ratchet latch mechanism for release upon re-application of pressure in brake applying direction thereto, and means responsive to movement of said lever system to brake release position to condition said pawl and ratchet latch mechanism for latching engagement upon the next movement of said lever system in brake applying direction, both of said means including over-center spring biasing means connected to said pawl and ratchet latch mechanism.

8. A brake lever, a movable pawl on said brake lever, a fixedratchet in position to be engaged by saidpawl, means responsive to release of brake applying pressure to said lever in brake applied position to bias said pawl toward release position with a force less than sufiic-ient to release the pawl while the brakes are applied but sufiicient to release the pawl when braking pressure is next applied to the lever, and means responsive to movement of said lever to brake release position to bias said pawl. toward operating position to eiiect interlocking engagement with said ratchet upon the next succeeding movement of said lever to brake applied position followed by release of braking pressure therefrom.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 8 in which both of said means includes an over-center spring operably associated with said pawl.

10. Mechanism as defined in claim 8 in which said means includes a pawl biasing lever, an overcenter spring connected thereto operable to bias said pawl biasing lever selectively toward pawl operating position and pawl release position, and abutment means engageable by said pawl biasing lever upon movement of the brake lever to brake release position and to brake applied position followed by release of brake applying pressure.

11. A parking brake comprising a system including a V said operatoraactuatedmember. it

l support, an operator actuated member movable on said.

support between a brake releaseposition and a brake applying zone, latchv mechanism comprising pawl and ratchet members connected between said support and said" op water actuated member, bias, means connected to said mechanism to bias said pawl and ratchet membersselec- 7 tively into relative latching and release positions, means V responsive-to movement of said operator actnatedjmemlease of said operator actuated member by the operator in said brake applying zone to actuate said bias means to, bias said pawl and ratchet members toward relative release position; said pawl and ratchet members being shaped to prevent such relative movement to release position until re-application'ot operator applied pressure to '12. A parking brake comprising a'systeni including support, an operator actuatedmem-ber movable on said support, a ratchet and pivoted pawl connected between 7 said support and member, shiftablespring meansconnected to said pawl to bias it selectively toward andaway from said ratchet, means responsive to movement of said ,member' to brake 'release position toshift said spring means to. bias said pawl towardsaid ratchet, and means responsive to, release by the operator of said member with the-brakes applied to shift said spring means to bias said pawl away from said ratchet, said pawl and ratchet hav-' ing latching teeth effective to prevent disengagement th'erebetween .until said member 'is given slight' additional movement by the operator to release said member.

13. Brake actuating mechanism comprising a bracket,

a brake lever pivoted to said bracket, an operator actuated lever pivoted to said bracket, said brake lever being movable a substantial distance between a brake released tion' actuating connection between said levers so that said operator actuated lever has'a brake released 'and abrake applied position separated bya corresponding substantial distance, latch mechanism interposed between said bracket'and said brake lever, latch control' mechanism, means, responsive to release of brake applying pressure to said operator actuatedl'everwhile in brake applied position to operate said latch control mechanism. to eflfect release of saidlatch mechanism upon the next application of braking pressure to said operator actuated lever while said operator actuated leverremains in brake applied position.

14. Brake actuating mechanism comprising, a bracket, a brake lever pivotedto said bracket, an operator actu-" ated lever pivoted to said bracket, said brake-lever being et and said brake lever, latch control mechanism, means responsive to release of brake applying pressure to said operator actuated'lev'er while in brake applied'position to operate said latch control mechanism to effect release of said latch mechanism upon thernext application of t braking pressure to said operator actuated lever while said operator actuated lever remains in brake applied position, and means responsive to movement of said. levers to brake released position to operate said latch control mechanism'to condition said latch mechanism for latching operation during the next movement of said levers 1 to brake'applied position. a a t 15. Brake actuating mechanism comprising a support, a brake applying member movable on said support, an operator actuated member movable onsaid support, said brake applying member being movable a substantial distance. between a brake. released position and a brake ap- 7 position and a brake applied position, a limitedlo st mo- 7 plied position, a limited lost motion adtiitrtingbbnnctiori between said members so that said operator actuated member has a brake released position and a brake applied positiontseparate'd by a corresponding'substantial distance, latch mechanism interposed between said support and said brake applying member, latch 'con'tr olmechanism, means responsive to 1 release of brake applying pressure to said operator actuated member while in brake applied position to operate said latch control mechanism to efiect release of said latch mechanism upon the next application of braking pressure to said'operator actuated member while said operator actuated member remains in brake applied position.f V a r V l6. Brake-actuating mechanism comprising a support, a brake applying member movable on said support, an operator actuated member movable on said support, said brake applyingmembei' being movable a substantial distance between a brake released position and aibrake applied position, a limited lost motion actuating Connection between said members so that said operator actuated member has a brake released'position and abrake applied position separated by a'corresponding substantial distance, latch mechanism'interpos'ed between said sup port and said brake applying membenlatchcontrol mechanism, "means responsive to 'release of brake applying pressure to said opera-tor actuated'member while in brake applied positionto operate said latch control mechanism to effect release of said latch mechanism upon the next application of braking pressure to said operator actuated member while said" operator actuated member remains in brake applied position, and means responsive to movement of said members to brake released position to operate said latch control mechanism to condition said latch mechanism for latching operation during the next moveposition and a brake applied position, a limited lost motion actuating connection between said levers so that said operator actuated lever has a brake released and a brake applied positionsepara-ted by a corresponding substan- 'tial distance, latch mechanism interposed between said, bracket and said brake lever, resilient means connected between said levers and normally taking'up the limited 7 lost motion therebetween in one direction, movable latch bias means, means carried by said operator actuated'lever to move said latch 'bia s meansto a position in which it biases said latch means toward inoperative position, said 7 last means being operable upon relative movement between said levers'resulting from release of brake applying pressure'to said operator actuated lever while in its brake applied position.

18; Brake actuating mechanism comprising'a'bracket, a brake lever pivoted to said bracket, an operaton'actuated lever pivoted to said bracket, said brake leverl being movable a substantial distance between .a brake released positionand a'brake appliedposition, a limited lost motion actuating connection between said levers so that said operator'a'ctuated leverhas a brake released and a brake stop said operator actuated lever at its brake released position, said lostmotion connection between'said levers permitting limited further movement of said brake lever, and an abutment on said bracket engaged by said bias means during such further movement of said brake lever to move said latch bias means to a position in which it biases said latch means toward operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Thorp Apr. 28, 1942 Skareen Jan. 19, 1943 Heller Jan. 26, 1943 Jandus Apr. 19, 1949 Duma Aug. 29, 1950 Robertshaw Nov. 14, 1950 Hinsey Mar. 4, 1952 Brock July 13, 1954 Jandus Nov. 23, 1954 Powell Mar. 3, 1959 McCarthy Sept. 22, 1959 

